Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-05
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
THE PIRsT LORD OF The TREASURY
AED THE rHUNDRRgR.
Instructions to Prosecute the "riuesr--
The Amesr's Recent Defsat-Ths
Doomed Anarchists.
ny Ang:O-Amcrlcan cable to The pi.naa.h. !

had resolved that the allegations that
the statement by the London Times
that Nr. Dillon told falsehood while
denying in the House Of Commons that
papers utterances concerning his al
eyed relations with the Sheridan In
yincibles was breach of privi-
'ege was not sustained by pre-
cedtnt. Continuing, Mr.. Smith said
ltwculd he against the dignity of the
Hon e to summon the Times TO the bar
without previously inquiring into the
circumstances. The gentlemen below
tle gangway, Mr.. Smith added, asked
that select committee be constituted
to inquire forthwith into the allegations
of the Times. The practice of the House
had been TO diyest itself as far as posi-
bic OF judicial duty. The Government
thought that such committee as was
asked for would be untitled to con-
siGer such grave questions as would
have 10 be referred TO it for decision
The Government, feeling il to be their
duty to endeavor TO solve the question,
had instructed the Acknowledgement
and such others as he cared to associate
with him to prosecute the Times for
libel on Mr.. Dillon, who was at liberty
TO select such counsel as he saw fit.
In conclusion, Mr.. Smith urged the
House TO accept the course proposed.
Mir. T. p. O'Connor condemned the
Governments proposal. He said he
commissioned the Government on
their humiliating and degrading posi-
ton. Their proposal was really for
= cOliusive action at law made by the
yalor of libel. Mr.. O'Connor here pro-
duccd a copy of the Times, containing
the libel on Mr.. Dillon, and, flourish
ing it aloft, he said: 81 purchased
tins copy of the Times at one of the
stalls owned by the Right Honorable
First Lord of the Treasury. 1t is he,
speaking for the Government, who
saws no breach of privilege was com
miited. Irish cheers. He is, there
fore, deeply interested as q party in
The case against the editor of the
Times. The two men ought to be in
the dock together. The Irish mem
bcrs reject his proposal as unfair, I'M
just, and unprecedented. The House
of Commons ought not to be taken in
by collusive action"
Here Mr.. DeLisle, Conservative
member for Middle Leicestershire,
arose to a point Of order. He said he
had heard Mr.. Tanner (Home- Ruler,
member for Middle Cork, say the
Conservatives were a damned lot Of
cads.'
irish voices: $50 YOU are
Speaker Peel: 1.-The clerk of the
House Will please see that tue words
are taken down"
Mr.. Tanner denied that he had used
the word "damned." He repeated,
however, that the Conservatives were a
lot of cads.
The Speaker said lie must withdraw
Ire expression and apologize.
Nr. Tanner said he would do so.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt de
nounced the Governments proposal.
SirEdward Clarke, Solicitor General,
moved an amendment to the Govern
mont's proposal to the effect that the
House did not consider the IGD'c8'S
statements concerning Mr.. Dillon a
breach OF privilege. Justifying his ac-
ton in offering the amendment, Sir
Edward declared that there was no re-
cord of Parliament having committed a
man to custody for breach of privilege,
such as the action of the Times was now
alleged to be. he added that he and the
Acknowledgement were responsible for
the advice Oh which the Government
bad acted. He proposed to contine
himself TO the legal points OF the case,
regardless of party politics. lie then
quoted precedents to show that the
Iouse was not the proper tribunal to
deal with such matters. No conception
had been alleged of a member, nor had
any contempt of the House been exhi-
bited such as had constituted the offence
IN previous cases where breach of priv
icee had been committed. The course
Of the prosecution. the Solicitor
General said, would be LEFT to
euch persons as the Irish members
might nominate, both counsel and So
licitors. If the Government were asked
to appoint them they would interpose
10 objection.
In conclusion, Sir Edward slightly
modified bis amendment, making it
read that the House declines to treat
the Timcs's publication as breach OF
privilege.
Sir Charles Russell (IiberaD contend
ed that, as Dillon's cOnductinthe House
had been attacked, that fact constituted
a breach of privilege, and it was the
duty of the House, and primarily in
cmnLent on the Government leader OF
the House (Mr. Smith, TO take action
10 protect the honor of its members.
The course proposed by the Govern
mcnt's motion was an evasion OF tins
DUTY. The question was not so much
whether a committee should be APP
rointcd as whether the House intended
Ia pass hy the imputatiOn against Dill
!cn, ana say before the world that, fla.
alant as the offence was, 1t was not OF
such a character as constituted breach
Of privilege.
oId Randolph Churchill admitted
tl.tthe case presented a prima:facic
breach of privilege, but he thought
that the House was not refusing a lu-
diciGl inquiry. The only difference
was as to the form of inquiry to be
adopted. He regarded a resort to the
ordinary tribunal of law one that
would afford far better remedy than
could be obtained from action by the
House. lie deprecated the attack
made by Mr.. O'Connor on the Govern
ment leader in the House. No
one outside Of Mr.. O'ConnorS
own circle could be expected to
.ympathize with him i'll such an assault.
II was utterly unjustitiable from the
very language used. Mr.. Smith could
well afford to ignore the assault.
Cheers If the Government leader
in the House was charged with not
taking primary action on behalf OF the
House Tor breach of privilege com
mittod against one of its members, lie
could retort that it was the leader OF
the opposition who ought to have been
expected to protect his friends, having
taken the lead outside of the House IN
an agitation for the repeal OF the
Union. [Cheers.l
MIR. Gladstone: al emphatcally re-
pudiate the assertion OF his Lord
ship. :,
Lord Randolph Churchill responded
at is true, however. He then pro